Reims, 1080

"These are my chambers?"

Gaeten de Rethel looked down upon the small servant of a man who was employed by Hugues de Champagne, Gaeten's Lord and Duke of the mansion he was in. The smaller man nodded quietly, his stern eyes gazing through Gaeten as if he was of no consequence, and it sent shivers down Gaeten's spine. He watched as the smaller man bowed politely, and lithely backed down the hall, silently vanishing behind a corner. Gaeten took a moment longer before entering his room, shaking his head clear.

The room was richly decorated, with a large canopy bed at the far wall, a large work desk with accompanying chair, several candles and a stack of parchment. At the opposite end were 2 large chests, side by side, for Gaeten's personal effects.

Throwing his cloak upon the chair and unbuckling his sword and scabbard from his side, Gaeten collapsed upon the bed, tired from the days journey on foot from Rethel. He brought his hands to his face, intent upon rubbing weary eyes, but he stopped as he felt the scars that criss-crossed his face like a lopsided X, one coming down at a slight angle over his right eye, the other perpendicular from it, and running the length of his face, from the right brow across his lips and down his chin.

Gaeten ran his fingers down the length of the scar, his mind drifting back to remember how he had unfortunately obtained them, and the others across his body. A knock upon the door shook him from his reverie. "Yes?", Gaeten inquired. A servant girl entered and bowed quickly. "My Lord Rethel, someone from an "Order of Chevaliers" wishes to speak to you in the main hall."

Gaeten considered before getting up with a grunt. As his eyes locked with the girls, she lowered her gaze and knitted her hands together, obviously anxious to be away from Gaeten. Taking a step forward, Gaeten lifted her chin so their eyes met.

"What is your name?"
"Julie my Lord."
"Julie...go and tell them man I will see him quickly for me."
"Yes my Lord..."

As Julie pulled away, Gaeten held onto her hand. She looked up, fear in her eyes. "Use it well - now, go, hurry, before he becomes impatient with us both." As Julie wriggled free, she inspected the 20 florins that Gaeten had slipped her, before quickly disappearing out the chamber door and down the hall. Gaeten took a quick look at his sword, but thought better of it, and started off at a leisurely pace after the servant girl Julie.